Union-Management Training Programs in the Public Sector: The New York Experience

[Excerpt] New York State has a long history of union-management education and training programs, making it unique in public sector employment. This chapter examines the programs undertaken at both state and city levels, as well as the applicability of the New York experience to other public sector jurisdictions. Although the profile of the New York State and city work force differs from that of the rest of the nation, there is much of value here for educators, union leaders, and others involved in public sector employment

Why do SGLT2 inhibitors reduce heart failure hospitalization? A differential volume regulation hypothesis

The effect of a sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) in reducing heart failure hospitalization in the EMPA-REG OUTCOMES trial has raised the possibility of using these agents to treat established heart failure. We hypothesize that osmotic diuresis induced by SGLT2 inhibition, a distinctly different diuretic mechanism than other diuretic classes, results in greater electrolyte-free water clearance, and ultimately in greater fluid clearance from the interstitial fluid (IF) space than from the circulation, potentially resulting in congestion relief with minimal impact on blood volume, arterial filling, and organ perfusion. We utilize a mathematical model to illustrate that electrolyte-free water clearance results in a greater reduction in IF volume compared to blood volume, and that this difference may be mediated by peripheral sequestration of osmotically inactive sodium. By coupling the model with data on plasma and urinary sodium and water in healthy subjects administered either the SGLT2i dapagliflozin or loop diuretic bumetanide, we predict that dapagliflozin produces a 2-fold greater reduction in IF volume compared to blood volume, while the reduction in IF volume with bumetanide is only 78% of the reduction in blood volume. Heart failure is characterized by excess fluid accumulation, in both the vascular compartment and interstitial space, yet many heart failure patients have arterial underfilling due to low cardiac output, which may be aggravated by conventional diuretic treatment. Thus, we hypothesize that by reducing IF volume to a greater extent than blood volume, SGLT2 inhibitors might provide better control of congestion without reducing arterial filling and perfusion

Depression and anxiety in migrants in the Netherlands: Population studies on diagnosis and risk factors

Beekman, A.T.F. [Promotor]Dekker, J.J.M. [Promotor]Wit, M.A.S. de [Copromotor]Verhoeff, A.P. [Copromotor

Carbon Dioxide Separation with a Two-Dimensional Polymer Membrane

Carbon dioxide gas separation is important for many environmental and energy applications. Molecular dynamics simulations are used to characterize a two-dimensional hydrocarbon polymer, PG-ES1, that uses a combination of surface adsorption and narrow pores to separate carbon dioxide from nitrogen, oxygen, and methane gases. The CO2 permeance is 3 x 10(5) gas permeation units (GPU). The CO2/N-2 selectivity is 60, and the CO2/CH4 selectivity exceeds 500. The combination of high CO2 permeance and selectivity surpasses all known materials, enabling low-cost postcombustion CO2 capture; utilization of landfill gas, and horticulture applications. --author-supplied descriptio

The Effects of Local Footwear Traction on Ground Reaction Impulse During Sprinting

During sprinting, the anterior-posterior force can be split into two phases; an initial braking phase followed by a propulsive phase. The cumulative effect of this force, the net horizontal impulse, is determined by integrating the force curve with respect to time. The braking impulse works to slow the athlete down whereas the propulsive impulse speeds the athlete up. The purpose of this study was to determine if and how braking forces could be reduced through manipulating traction and the effect on performance. Previous research results from internal testing showed that braking impulses occur on the lateral portion of sprint shoes, so the first part of the study sought to reduce the traction in this area. Five athletes performed three 10m sprints on a sample track surface, in two different sprint shoe conditions; a control shoe and a shoe with reduced lateral traction. Force plate data (Kistler, 2400Hz) and pressure insole data (Pedar, 100Hz) were used to determine impulse and regional traction. Results showed no significant differences between conditions in terms of horizontal force or impulse. There was also no change in regional utilized traction. No difference was found when comparing traction coefficients of the two groups concluding that available traction between the shoes and track surface was not low enough. Further attempts to reduce available traction included lateral taping of a running shoe as well as lateral and midfoot taping on a lab surface. These modifications appeared to show shifting of where traction was developed under the shoe. They also showed that with decreasing braking impulse, propulsive impulse also decreased. Further testing included removal of primary and secondary traction elements from the sprint shoe followed by adhering a directional traction element that provides minimal traction in terms of braking yet sufficient traction in the propulsive phase